Trouble at the Top

Trouble at the Top is a business-based BBC television fly on the wall documentary broadcast on BBC2.^[1][2] The series focussed on business failings or disputes between business people. Mainly the series depicted half-hour documentaries on large businesses such as Sainsbury's or privately owned ventures. It also featured a number of celebrity-based editions such as Chef Gordon Ramsay, supermodel Jodie Kidd and pop group Bucks Fizz.^[3] The series ran for nine seasons from 8 January 1997 to 8 February 2005.

Trouble at the Top
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	9
Production
Running time	43–44 minutes
Original release
Network	BBC 2
Release	8 January 1997 (1997-01-08) – 8 February 2005 (2005-02-08)

The 2005 movie Kinky Boots was inspired by an episode about W.J. Brooks Ltd, a family-controlled Earls Barton, Northamptonshire shoe factory whose 'Divine' product line consisted of traditionally feminine footwear marketed towards men.^[4]

Trouble at the Top reportedly inspired TV producer Mark Burnett to make The Apprentice, which debuted in the US in 2004.^[5]

A spin off four-part series, Trouble at the Big Top, followed developments at the Millennium Dome in a similar style.